Lok Sabha elections 2019: Local cop faces voter intimidation charge in Bihar
Complaints of snags in electronic voting machines, an EVM tampering bid by a miscreant and a clash between two groups outside a polling booth marked the fifth phase of voting in Bihar on Monday.
Complaints of snags in electronic voting machines, an EVM tampering bid by a miscreant and a clash between two groups outside a polling booth marked the fifth phase of voting in Bihar on Monday.
The voter turnout was 57.76% in the five seats that went to polls, as per the Voter Turnout app of the Election Commission of India — most of the 40 seats in the state have completed polling.
One person was arrested for allegedly trying to tamper with an EVM in Saran. The suspect, Ranjeet Hazra, was arrested for allegedly trying to tamper with the ballot unit after he broke the EVM in a fit of rage, said officials. Eyewitnesses said Hazra had a quarrel with his mother over “choice of candidates”.
In another incident, windshields of a few vehicles were damaged as two groups clashed outside a polling booth in Saran Lok Sabha seats.
Confirming the two incidents, Saran district magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen said, “One miscreant was arrested for trying to tamper with an EVM. In another incident, a minor scuffle took place between two groups. However, the situation was brought under control.”
In Muzaffarpur, a police officer was apprehended for allegedly trying to intimidate a voter, who had complained about delay in initiating the polling process. Inspector general of police, Muzaffarpur, Nayyar Hasnain Khan sought a report after a video of Mushahri station house officer (SHO) Dhananjai Kumar intimidating voters started doing rounds on social media.
Voting was delayed at Pare Laxmipur in Gaighat, Raghunathpur in Mushahri and several booths at Sakra, Bochahan and Kudhani areas of Muzaffarpur following snags in EVMs.
In another incident, around 750 voters boycotted polls at Dumri and Janar villages, protesting against displacement because of construction of roads and bridges in Muzaffarpur. They complained that the government had not rehabilitated them.